Nurse Life Care Planning is a specialized area of nursing practice dealing with individuals who sustained a catastrophic injury/illness. The nursing process and nursing care plan is the foundation of nurse life care planning. Just as in nursing school and clinical settings, Nurse Life Care Planners use the nursing process to formulate a plan of care which is titled a Nurse Life Care Plan. The Nurse Life Care Plan process follows the standards set forth by the American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners (AANLCP®) and the nursing process. The highlights of the nursing process include assessment, diagnosis, outcome identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

The Nurse Life Care Plan is a tool used for estimating medical and non-medical needs of a client with a catastrophic injury/illness. As needed, the Nurse Life Care Plan uses a collaborative approach of various health care providers and their opinions. The Nurse Life Care Plan is intended to follow the client throughout his/her lifetime. The Nurse Life Care Plan is specific to the individual based on his/her needs. It is an estimate of medical and non-medical needs as well as costs based on the assessment and may be modified or reviewed as life situations change. Also, the Nurse Life Care Planner may be requested to discuss the Life Care Plan in court trial and be designated as an expert witness.